May Days

I've been trying to pick up the running frequency again by going for a run right after I'm done teaching and before I head home. Eric has been home quite a bit the last couple of months and has been very accommodating, which I really appreciate. I use the Nike+GPS app on my iPhone to record my runs. It can record my pace and let me know when I've completed each mile, among other options. If it's accurate, then I'm VERY slow. Luckily, I've never cared about beating anyone; just wanting to put in some miles. I like to be able to post a message to Facebook when I begin a run so my friends can leave comments. I hear a cheer every time that happens. I don't always post my runs to FB, as I don't want to annoy my friends and get no cheers. 

On Wednesday, we took the boys in for their 2-year appointment. Every time we go to the doctor, it's amazing to think about the progress they have made since their last appointment. I remember us hauling them in their carriers the day after we left the hospital when they were born. Uggh. That seemed like cruel and unusual punishment to try to make it out the door so soon. Understandably, their doctor wanted to make sure they were gaining weight, since I was mostly trying to nurse. 

This time, they each received a shot and neither one cried. It's also neat to watch them get tested for developmental skills. This time we saw their Physician Assistant. She checked out Aiden first, but Reid started answering some of the questions at the same time. For example, Aiden just grinned when she wanted him to point to his belly button, but Reid was all about showing off his. She also had pictures in a booklet and asked them to point to different items. When she asked them to point at the daddy in the book, they both pointed to Eric instead. Eric's been able to go to all of their checkups. Maybe other dads aren't as likely to be able to attend, so they thought it was a good question to include.

On Friday, we had another furlough day. (Please support your schools if they propose a bond or mill; these budget cuts are not good for our students). I took the boys running with me and we stopped at the park on the way home. While I was trying to cool off my beet-red face and enjoy some water, the boys came up to me and said "Buh-bye!" They then took off for the bridge and started heading home. I quickly threw my water bottle in the stroller and caught up with them.

I waved back to Aiden when he paused to look at something. Reid stopped and gestured with his hand in the same way and told Aiden to get moving. They're good about looking out for one another.

Including a picture of myself for posterity. I don't care if my huge hat is dorky looking; it has done a great job of keeping sun off of my face and neck.

After the run, we went to pick up Grandma and went over to visit Grandpa. Here's Aiden tickling his knee:

Me and Dad. (I think I'm still a little red from running.)

My wonderful parents:

Two little monkeys wanting to jump on Grandpa's bed:

Giving Grandpa a kiss:

Reid prefers to explore and destroy:

Post nap smiles and silliness:

I found a pattern for making baby leg warmers on a former student's blog. I've taught long enough that my former students have graduated from college, married, and had children themselves! I hope Eva can't read yet, because if I ever make it the post office, they'll be heading her way. Reid helped me pick out thread:

Then, Aiden wanted to join in:

I bought four pairs of knee length socks in the woman's section of Target. 

Cut off the foot:

Practice on the bottom part of the sock. Make sure your supervisors approve:

Zig-zag around the remaining tube:

Wa-la! Super easy, even if you have two little helpers:

Then, the boys helped to take down some of the remaining birthday streamers:

On Saturday morning, the boys wanted to read part of the newspaper with me. Aiden chose the car section and Reid wanted the sports section. Surprise, surprise.

My Dad's brother, Bill, stopped to visit on his way from Arizona to Cheyenne:

The boys entertained him with some piano music:

Go Rockies!

Back at home:

Reid likes to throw dirt out of my flower pots, so he has an excuse to get the broom out of the garage and try to sweep it up:

Of course, Aiden needed something, so he received a snow shovel:

New Crocs- Aiden has a truck, baseball, "a", and monkey:

Reid has a rocket, golf ball, "r", and monkey:

Saturday evening, helping Mama make fruit salad:

Sunday morning, I walked in to discover that Aiden had taken off his pajamas. The boys did this for the first time a couple of weeks ago when I was at school and Eric was home. Unfortunately, in addition to taking off their pajamas, the boys also took off their dirty diapers and made quite a miss. Eric said he spent almost an hour trying to get it cleaned up. I think I owe him a week-long golf vacation after that fiasco.

Reid, pretending to be disapproving, although we often hear them cheering and clapping when they're monkeying around in their cribs:

Sunday afternoon, Grandma came over to watch the boys so Eric and I could go to a Rockies game. Beautiful weather, crummy score.

I always bring my glove. Have to be prepared for the foul balls. A few years ago, a friend of a friend told me that it was a waste to bring my glove. When I told him that I had caught a foul ball, he quickly zipped his lips.

Us :)

While we were at the game, Grandma reported that our monkeys had finally figured out how to escape from their cribs!

Eric and I walked around during the last couple of innings. This is looking back at our seats, which were in the lower deck, just to the right of the foul pole.

I picked up Panera on the way home from exercise class this evening. Eric heated up some vegetable soup for the boys to eat to hold them over until I arrived home. Aiden loved it, but Reid wanted nothing to do with it. He kept asking for "More" "Cheese" "More" "Cheese". We told him no more mac & cheese until he ate a bite of vegetables. At first he pretended to eat a bite, but I noticed that he dumped the veggies off of his spoon before he put it in his mouth. When I loaded up the spoon again, he pursed his lips, shook his head "No", and avoided my spoon/airplane approach. We let him be and went back to eating. A little bit later, he grabbed his spoon and shoveled down some vegetables. He gets so many time-outs, that I wanted to go overboard with the positive reinforcement, so I started cheering. Even though we said he only had to do one bite, he kept eating the veggies. So, we kept cheering. Aiden loved joining in too. Whatever works. We'll take this small victory.